Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-1 in Jose Mourinho’s first game on return | Football News
Real Madrid secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Espanyol in their La Liga opener on Saturday, with substitute Carlos Espi scoring a last-minute goal. This match marked the beginning of José Mourinho’s second tenure as manager of the club.
Jude Bellingham scored the first goal of the season for Los Blancos, giving them an early lead before Alex Calatrava equalized for Espanyol. The game appeared headed for a draw until Espi, a late substitute, netted the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Mourinho returned to Real Madrid 13 years after his initial departure, aiming to restore order in the wake of a tumultuous previous season and challenge the dominance of arch-rivals Barcelona. His starting lineup featured star players including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Bellingham, alongside new signings such as Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konate.
Bellingham, who had a commendable first season after his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, struggled in the following two seasons without securing major trophies. Under Mourinho’s direction, he was positioned in an attacking midfield role, where he played a significant part leading up to his goal, which came from a header off Arda Guler’s well-placed free kick.
Despite showing signs of vulnerability, Madrid’s defense was tested early, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois making pivotal saves against Espanyol’s Clemens Riedel and Roberto Fernandez. However, Espanyol capitalized on a well-executed team move to level the score in the 30th minute, with Calatrava scoring from a Javi Hernandez cut-back.
Madrid struggled to find the back of the net despite several attempts, including a near-miss from Federico Valverde, whose low shot hit the outside of the post. In the final moments, Espi took advantage of a defensive lapse, securing the victory for Madrid.
In other La Liga results on Saturday, Sevilla defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-1, while Valencia and Celta Vigo played to a scoreless draw.
